An introductory analysis as to the influence of lower-body power on multidirectional speed in collegiate female rugby players

Abstract

This study investigated relationships between lower-body power, measured by a vertical jump (VJ) and standing broad jump (SBJ), with multidirectional speed in collegiate female rugby players. The rugby player data was compared to that of general team sport athletes to ascertain whether there were characteristics specific to collegiate rugby players. Multi-directional speed was measured by a 20-meter (m) sprint (0-5, 0-10, 0-20 m intervals) and 505 change-of-direction speed test. Eight rugby players and eight team sport athletes completed all tests. Spearman’s correlations calculated relationships between the VJ and SBJ with the speed tests, and stepwise multiple regressions determined whether the jump tests predicted speed performance ( p ≤ 0.05). For the rugby players, the VJ correlated with the 0-20 m interval (r = −0.73). The SBJ correlated with the 0-5 and 0-10 m intervals, and the left-leg 505 (r = −0.71 to −0.88), and predicted 0-5 m and left-leg 505 time (r 2 = 0.50-0.58). For the team sport athletes, only the VJ correlated with left-leg 505 (r = −0.80), and predicted left- and right-leg 505 times (r 2 = 0.61-0.69). The results suggest that horizontal power measured by a SBJ has a greater contribution to multidirectional speed in collegiate female rugby players.